Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Book Review: Elemental Arcane (The Eldritch Files Book 1) by Phaedra Weldon

Samantha Hawthorne lives a rather curious life in New Orleans running a magic and herb shop. As an Elemental Witch in the Big Easy and owner of a wolf Familiar as well as the head of a former Faerie Queen, curious is as quiet as it gets for Sam.

Until children start turning into blood-thirsty Changelings and attack their parents.

When one of these children shows up in front of her shop, Sam and her friends are determined to find out where they’re coming from and where the exchanged children are being kept and put a stop to it. But will they succeed when they find themselves pitted against ninja ghouls, one of the oldest and darkest enemies of the mortal world, and a secret from Sam’s childhood that could unravel her magic?

This is the first time I’ve read Phaedra Weldon and I have to say I’m glad I did. The book grabbed me from the very beginning. Had all the elements I love to read; witches, magic, faeries and other things that go bump in the night.

Samantha Hawthorne owns a little shop in New Orleans, Bell, Book and Candle. She’s an Elemental Witch with a lot of power. She isn’t into following the herd and doing what she’s told which is probably why I loved her right off the bat.

Her little group is unique and made up of a Hedge witch and a Cyber witch. This is only the second series I’ve read that has a cyber witch and I was so excited to see it here. Times are changing and to see story lines change with it makes me oh, so happy! The mystery man of the hour is not her boyfriend, but rather her ex Crwys. Can’t wait to find out more about him in future books.

If you are looking for a new author this is the one to try! A quick read that has made me research her other books and I’m definitely going to read more of this series!

Phaedra's imagination and love of television and movie characters often rewarded her with strange looks at school. Her love of science fiction and fantasy blossomed when her cousin Cyndy gave her Anne McCaffrey's "Dragon Flight" for her twelfth birthday. After that, her mother bought her subscriptions to Ellery Queen, Issac Assimov's, F&SF, Realms and Analog and her father never failed to bring home a book of short stories no matter where he traveled.

Other interests are manga, anime, gaming, hiking, waterfalls and spending time with her daughter.

Her latest series are The Eldritch Files, The Grimoire Chronicles and The Dark Backward (coming 2016). There is also a 15 book Dark Fantasy series on the horizon, as soon as she feels she's got all the tools she needs in her wheelhouse.